B L A C K - T A I L E D GANNET.
Sula melanura, Temm.
We are indebted to the kindness of M, Temminck for the loan of the fine specimen of this bird from which
the accompanying figure was taken, and which he informed us was killed in Iceland. In every respect, except
in having a black tail, it resembles the Solan Gannet, S u b Bassmti, which bird when fully adult has a white tail.
Whether this difference be an accidental variation, or if not, whether the difference is of sufficient importance
to justify a specific distinction, we are unable satisfactorily to decide. M. Temminck regards it, we believe,
as a true species, and as such we publish it, leaving the question still open for further investigation: at all
events it will not be destitute of interest to the scientific naturalist. It may perhaps be said that as the Gan-
nets change from almost black to white in passing from youth to maturity, this bird exhibits an intermediate
state of plumage, the original black colouring still remaining on the tail: there can be no doubt, however, that
the bird was fully adnlt, and we may remark that the first change that occurs in the plumage of the young
shows a disposition in all parts to approach towards the colouring of the adults; it is therefore unlikely that
the tail should be even of a deeper black than that of the young Gannet, while the rest of the plumage is that
of complete maturity.
The figure is about three fourths of the natural size.